Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who has parliamentary responsibilities for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is calling on all Guyanese to recommit to build “One Guyana”.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
He made the call on Tuesday evening at State House in New Amsterdam at a flag-raising ceremony to usher in Guyana’s 52nd Republic Anniversary.
Corporal Anthony Fordyce of the First Inventory Battalion raises the Golden Arrowhead at State House, New Amsterdam, Region Six
This year’s Republic Anniversary celebrations are being observed under the theme, “Mashramani 2022, Resolute in Building Our One Guyana.”
“This Republic Anniversary, let us use it to rededicate our energies towards the development of our country. We have an obligation to our children and the future generations of our country. Our Government is working every single day and we are being led by a young dynamic President who is pushing us to get things done,” Mustapha told the gathering.
He referred to Guyanese as hardworking individuals who are committed to making the country a prosperous one.
“We have heard what our country’s future will look like, we have heard from the President and many other leaders in this country; our country will move rapidly over the next few years.”
He also explained that Guyana is endowed with many resources apart from the most important resource, which is the people. Guyana possesses priceless treasures and now Guyana is an oil and gas producing nation.
However, he said Guyana is more importantly “One People, One Nation with One Destiny”.
He said Republic Day 2022 must be used as an affirmation of our sovereignty that we cherish as we continue to pursue our path of development.
This path, he noted, is one that is cognisant of both global and domestic challenges. However, he urged that as a united people with a common cause we will be able to bring economic prosperity so all Guyanese share the vision of unity and One Guyana is embraced.
“As we celebrate another milestone of self-governance, we all should feel a sense of collective pride as Guyana enters a new phase of tremendous development. Under President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ vision, our Government and all regions across this country we will see unprecedented development,” Mustapha assured.
He pointed out that while Guyana is an oil and gas producing nation, the country would experience a lot of opportunities, and the People’s Progressive Party Government recognises the importance of the development of other sectors in Guyana.
“That is why you will recognise His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali is so passionate about developing the other sectors and we will use resources from the oil and gas sector to develop the other sectors in our country.”
Meanwhile, Region Six Chairman David Armogan noted that it has been 52 years since Guyana severed the last constitutional ties that the country had with the British Empire. After Independence there were still constitutional ties through the Governor General, these were severed when Guyana became a Republic State.
Armogan explained that back in 1970, many were very excited to be able to charter their own course and a new destiny for Guyana
“We had anticipated that having severed ties with the British Empire we would be able to become a country where we can all put our heads and hands together and put our energies together to harness the resources of our country for the betterment of our people.”
The Chairman pointed out that many had big dreams but unfortunately after almost 20 years those hopes were not realised.
“Those dreams were not realised although there was some amount of achievement,” the Chairman said.
He pointed out that at that time Guyana had become one of the poorest countries in the world and was referred to as a Highly Indebted Poor Country.
“We have passed that stage and today we are described as a Middle-Income Developing Country.”
He said Guyanese can now be proud of the country, which is on the road to a high degree of progress.
Those 1970 dreams, he said, can now be brought into reality.
“There is not a Guyana for Afro-Guyanese, there is not a Guyana for Indo-Guyanese, and there is not a Guyana for Chinese, Portuguese and Amerindians. There is one Guyana for all Guyanese,” Armogan said to thunderous applause.
All Guyanese, he pointed out, have the same opportunity, duty and responsibility to ensure the prosperity of Guyana as fast as possible.
“No person, no political party, no movement will stop us from achieving the objective of bringing ‘One Guyana’ to all the people of our country and making sure that we can all enjoy a high level of prosperity and a higher standard of living,” the Regional Chairman committed. (G4)
